Jurgen Klopp has defended his players' attitude after Liverpool suffered their heaviest defeat since September 2017.
The newly-crowned Premier League champions were 3-0 down at half-time before eventually losing 4-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad.
The game came seven days after a City defeat to Chelsea saw the Reds claim a first title in 30 years.
But Klopp bristled at the suggestion from Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves that his team's attitude was not what it should have been, "I saw a brilliant attitude. I saw boys who were fighting with all they had.
"We didn't behave like somebody who became champions a week ago.
"We lacked fluidity, that's for sure, and in some situations - 50-50 situations - they were quicker than us in mind, that's true as well.
"That's what they used, then the pitch becomes big immediately.
"So first goal we leave Joe - it felt like - five minutes alone in the challenge with Sterling. There must be a second player!"
Liverpool did have chances to gain a foothold in the game, all of them squandered.
"They used their chances, not all but a lot, and we didn't," Klopp told Shreeves.
"City were still 100 per cent deserved winner of course today, but like a 5-3 or something like that would've been possible as well."
Klopp hailed City as incredible, saying he didn't see them play a bad game all season - even the ones they'd lost.
"I saw a brilliant attitude. I saw boys who were fighting with all their effort." 💪
Listen to Jurgen Klopp's thoughts following Liverpool's heavy defeat to Manchester City 👇 pic.twitter.com/gkgyA3uxRb— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 2, 2020
When pressed again on the issue of application and attitude, Klopp snapped, "If you want to lead this story in the direction that we were not focused on that game, then do it.
"You've asked a second time now, I speak about attitude - I like my team, how they set up. I said that, and I thought it's clear.
"I think we proved that point. We proved as well that City's an unbelievably good team.
"Isn't it nice that in this league another team can be champion even when City's around and plays this kind of football, is able to play this kind of football. That's a surprise as well."
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